If your rig lacks a generator, you might be tempted to use a normal generator like you might find at a construction site or powering a house during a storm outage. Most RVs come equipped with a generator that’s used to recharge the house batteries, power the A/C, and provide current to the wall outlets. It’s a pretty reliable source of power, as long as you keep it properly maintained. The next logical step up from an inverter is a generator. We have a 300-watt inverter that stays in our truck permanently, powering Kindle readers, iPhones, and (when necessary) Nick’s laptop. They also aren’t large enough to power things like coffee pots and microwaves, and they drain your vehicle batteries, so if you’re not careful you could leave yourself strand- ed! Nonetheless, inverters serve as a great option if you’re just looking to get your feet wet with boondocking. These inverters are cheap, but they aren’t super convenient. You can find these on Amazon or in auto parts stores such as AutoZone. So the plug-in inverter should have a wattage of at least 160. For example, Nick’s laptop requires a flow of 160 watts to charge. Inverters are measured in “watts”, and you should purchase an inverter with a large enough wattage to cover your devices’ power consumption. Devices with a larger power draw require an actual plug, which is built right into small inverters. Some more recently manufactured vehicles have built-in USB ports, and while these work for things that can be charged via USB, a laptop is a different story. These come in all different sizes, but in their simplest form they’re small enough to plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. Inverters are devices that transform energy from batteries into electricity that’s usable for electronic devices. We’ll cover the smallest and least expensive option, eventually making our way up to the most expensive (and most convenient) option. The more points of friction that you can remove from your life on the road, the better, and the longer it is that you’re likely to stick with the lifestyle. The goal here is to live in freedom and comfort. There are some cheap options, but they aren’t convenient and they have their limitations. But how do you get power when you’re not at a campground with an easy power connection? It boils down to your budget. Electrical power is just one of the necessities, especially when you’re working remotely. We have laptops, cell phones, tablets, and small battery packs. There are household items that need to be charged there’s just no way around that. This article has been modified from its original appearance in Living in a Small RV – How we camp free and work remotely in our off-grid RV.
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